European Union (EU) leaders offered Thursday (Dec.. 16) to begin membership talks with Turkey October next year, but warned that it could take another decade before Turkey would be ready for full membership, because the challenge of integrating the poor and predominantly Muslim country into the EU could prove formidable.
EU leaders warned Turkey before the start of their summit in Brussels that it would have to accept stringent conditions before it could become a full member.
As discussions on the final offer continued Friday (Dec. 17), measures proposed reportedly included recognition of existing EU member Cyprus, where Turkey still controls the northern part of the island.
Early reports Friday showed that Turkey was "disappointed" by the conditions set by EU. But should Turkey accept the EU offer, the entry of the strategically placed country to the bloc would change the face of EU for ever.
Turkey would become the largest EU member, because its population is expected to surpass that of Germany by 2020.
That would not only give Turkey considerable power because voting within the EU is weighted by population, but there are also concerns over the impact that the entry of 71 million Turks will have on the EU labour market.
Critics also fear that opening the door to a predominantly Muslim country would profoundly alter the bloc's European and Christian character at a time when many Europeans are questioning multiculturalism.
That unease is based in part on the feeling that many Muslims reject European values of secularism and equality for women.
EU leaders appeared relaxed at the summit, but they are fully aware of the risks attached to Turkey's accession.. "This is a decision with immense implications," German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Thursday.
Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, backed by the United States all favour further eastward enlargement of the EU, and see Turkey as a strategic partner.
They highlight Turkey's strategic importance close to political hotspots in the Middle East. Turkey's membership would push EU territory to the borders of Iraq, Iran and Syria.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said last month that Turkey could serve as a bridge between Europe and the Muslim world, and contribute to international peace.
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) party, the European Parliament's third largest, supports this notion.
"This is a huge opportunity to break down the barriers between Islam and Christendom West and demonstrate that the EU is not about creating a superstate but rather a community of values, open to all Europeans who would embrace them," ALDE leader Graham Watson said Friday.
Some analysts say that although Turkey's membership may not necessarily "improve" the bloc's relations with the Middle East, it will set an example for neighbouring Middle Eastern countries.
"It will show other countries in the Middle East how Turkey has prospered from democracy and membership of the EU," Daniel Gros, director of the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies told IPS.
Gros acknowledges the "delicate political issues" involved in Turkish membership, but he says the benefits are greater. "Turkey's entry into the EU can have a great influence on Middle Eastern countries where such democracy doesn't exist."
But Turkish accession remains deeply unpopular in some member states such as Austria, Denmark, Cyprus and France where many find Turkey too big, too different and too poor to join the bloc. They fear that further eastward expansion of the EU will mark the end of a cherished dream -- to make Europe a united superpower that could counter the dominance of the United States.
France plans a referendum to ask its citizens if they support Turkish membership. It would take only one member state to veto Turkey's application.
Warnings about Turkey's admission to the bloc also come from overseas. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi said on the Italian television station RAI Thursday that it would be dangerous for the EU to admit Turkey as a member state.
"As far as the Islamic world is concerned -- including the Islamic extremists, even bin Laden -- they're rejoicing over the entry of Turkey in the European Union. This is their Trojan horse. I'm saying only what will happen with the entry of the horse into Troy." (IPS/EU/MM/IP/SB/SS/YE/04)
